2017-08-08

“Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” Matthew 26:53-54 NIV

Pursue The Passion is a seven-day digital study based on the life of Christ and His Crucifixion. Through film, scripture and discussion questions, it is designed to inspire reflection on our life purpose and how to use our talents to further the Kingdom of God. When we focus on Jesus’ plan for our lives and follow His will, then our purpose becomes more clear. Jesus is the ultimate example of this, and we will see this demonstrated in the film, The Passion of the Christ.

Why tell The Passion Of Christ? Like Mel Gibson so perfectly stated, “I wanted the effort to be a testament to the infinite love of Jesus the Christ, which has saved, and continues to save, many the world over.” He also shares about the words that guided his storytelling, truth and Aletheia, meaning "unforgetting."

We must never forget what Christ did for us. As each one of us moves through our “Pursuit of the Passion for Jesus Christ,” we also must seek truth and never forget that He came to fulfill the scriptures, to crush evil and give EVERYONE who calls on His name, everlasting life. This is the Passion of the Christ.

Day 1: Preparation

“Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.’” Luke 9:23 NIV

 

Jesus is praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. It says in Matthew 26:39 NIV, Jesus asks, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Jesus knew what He was about to face, the cross and no matter what, He would do His Father’s will.

JESUS PREPARES: There are significant things that Jesus does before his arrest. Matthew 26:12 a woman with an alabaster vial (expensive perfume) enters and anoints Jesus. He tells His disciples that the oil is preparation for His burial. Then Jesus celebrates Passover and gives Holy Communion to His disciples. Matthew 26:30 then says “When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.” Jesus begins to prays, preparing Himself for opposition. Even when Pontius Pilate pulled Jesus aside to speak to Him alone, Jesus knew His purpose. He didn't try to persuade Pilate to let Him go. Jesus was picking up His cross, He was pursuing His passion, He was pursuing us.

PURSUE THE PASSION: How do we prepare ourselves to follow our passion? Preparation is a process we go through to step into our purpose and carry our cross. But what exactly does it mean to carry our cross? Jesus had both a literal and figurative cross. The literal cross was the crucifixion itself, but the figurative cross was Jesus completing Hhis purpose, taking the sin of the world upon Himself so that each and every one of us could spend eternal life with Him, holy and blameless. You might say, “Well that’s Jesus, but how do I know how to prepare if I don’t know what my purpose is or what the cross looks like that I must carry?” So many of us are trying to find “our purpose.” We begin looking everywhere and to everyone for the answer, but truly the only one that has the answer is Jesus.

WHAT WE LEARN FROM JESUS:
  • We must turn to the Father first. Pray to Him and seek out His will above all else. Sometimes God will ask us to do things we might not want to do, but we must prepare ourselves to follow our calling. Just as Jesus asked for the cup to be taken away, He knew His Father’s will above all else.
  • Surround yourself with accountability and prayer. Just like Jesus, who asked three of the disciples to come with Him and pray, we too must surround ourselves with accountability and prayer. We need to have a circle of believers who can help us on this journey, we cannot do it alone.
  • Be prepared by being aware of the enemy’s schemes. The enemy came to Jesus at every turning point in the film mocking Him and trying to sway Him and he will do this to each one of us as well.  We must do as it says in Ephesians 6:11 NIV “put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” We must read our Bible, pray, fast, and know what Christ says about us.
QUESTIONS:
  1. What resonated with you while you were watching Jesus being condemned to death and beaten, ultimately leading him to carry his cross?
  2. Do you ever feel you are being blamed or accused of things you haven’t done? Share a little about what your experience and how you have worked through it.
  3. What are some of your steps you take in preparing to walk out your purpose and carry your cross no matter what the opposition looks like?

CHALLENGE:

Pursue Preparation. There is always a “preparation” process that helps equip and prepare us for the journey, the calling on our life. Whether you are a student, athlete, artist, parent, etc. step out in faith today and do something you know will help you to better understand your calling. This always starts with making time for Jesus. Spend time with Him in prayer and listen to His desires, then be bold and pick up your cross.

Day 2: Perseverance

“And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV

 

WHAT WE SEE IN THE FILM: Jesus faced opposition along the way -- from Pilate, unbelievers, the religious leaders, Satan, even His own disciple. We see in the film Peter strikes the ear off one of the men coming to arrest Jesus. In John 18:11 NIV Jesus says to Peter, “Put your the sword back into its sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which the Father has given me?” Even Mary, Jesus’ mother, when she sees Him fall, she runs up to Him to comfort Him. Broken by the pain that He was enduring, Mary knew Jesus’ purpose. He was here to fulfill the prophecy. He says to her, “I make all things new.” She realizes that she must let Him go.

PURSUE THE PASSION: Perseverance happens when the preparation has been done. The definition of perseverance is a steady persistence in a course of action especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles or discouragement. It is easy to stay comfortable, to remain in a routine of what we’ve been doing. In Acts 20:24 NIV it says, “However, I consider my life worth noting to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me — the task of testifying to the good new of God’s grace.” By keeping this scripture in mind when we face adversity, it is those challenges that grow us and teach us to endure, causing us to rely on God, bringing us into a deeper faith in Him.

WHAT WE LEARN FROM JESUS:
  • There will be obstacles and opposition. We will fall but we must pick ourselves up. Things and people can get in our way, distract or hinder us in our fight, but we must keep pressing on, keeping our eyes on Jesus. We are part of a bigger plan, a mission that puts God’s glory at the center of our lives displaying to those around us, it is because of His strength we can continue the good fight.
  • Perseverance should not be self-driven, but it must be God-driven. Who do we listen to? How do we decipher which voices to hear amongst the many? We must remember that we cannot lean on our own understanding. This is where we lose heart and find ourselves broken, unable to continue on. Why? Because we are human, in need of a Savior who that is driving everything we do to point to Him, His strength, His love, His talents.
  • Get uncomfortable.When we step out of the boat, we are stepping into faith. There will be times we think we know where He has us going, but other times it will seem like we’re sinking. One way or another we can overcome our fears and the challenges set before us when leaning on Christ.
QUESTIONS:
  1. Do you ever feel like you just can’t go any further? That your cross might be too heavy to carry? Share a little about how you get back up and keep going.
  2. Who are the people in your life that help you keep going when you face tough challenges? List their names and praise God for each of them. Are there ever people who hinder you from going on, even if they have the best of intentions? Jesus tells His mother, “I make all things new.” What do you say to those who may stand in your way or distract you from finishing the task you’ve been given?
  3. Are there ever people who hinder you from going on, even if they have the best of intentions? Jesus tells His mother, “I make all things new.” What do you say to those who may stand in your way or distract you from finishing the task you’ve been given?

CHALLENGE:

Pursue Perseverance. There will be days we feel like giving up, after facing tough challenges. Inspiration and strength to carry on comes from Jesus. Ephesians 6:10-18 gives you instructions to put on the full armor of God. Today is the day to put on that armor and begin to fight like the warrior God created you to be. Read through Ephesians, then do something you have put off or decided was just too hard for you to accomplish. Maybe it’s signing up for a new class or trying out for a sports team. Remember, when it looks impossible, then you’re probably in the right place because God wants you to rely on Him and not yourself. He wants to press you into your full potential.

Day 3: Participation

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 4:10-11

 :

WHAT WE SEE IN THE FILM: As Jesus continues to carry His cross to Golgotha, a Roman soldiers seizes Simon of Cyrene and makes him carry Jesus’ cross. Simon probably thought he knew his purpose, to be one of thousands of Jews who visited Jerusalem during Passover, but instead God intervened and had a completely different task for him. Simon was “pressed to participate” and he was forced to carry the cross of another man who was to die for him.

Veronica on the other hand, was sympathetic and emotionally moved by Jesus, “willing to participate” by grabbing a cloth and going to wipe His face. She could’ve stood on the side and watched, like many of the others, but instead she decided to step in and humbly serve Jesus.

PURSUE THE PASSION: Participation is the only option. Stepping in to what God is calling us to do. If we do not participate, we will never find our purpose. You’ve heard the phrase, “Life is not a spectator sport.” By participating, God can work in and through us. Participation comes in two ways, “willing to participate” or “pressed to participate.” Even when you do not desire to serve but you do, you may find it’s not about what you are doing, but what you are receiving through serving others. Just like Simon, he may have helped to carry Jesus’ cross but Jesus was going to die for him.

WHAT WE LEARN FROM JESUS:

  • Participate in other people’s lives. Getting involved in other’s lives allows us to get over ourselves, to get out of our mess, and help someone else. Sometimes we will be pressed into these relationships and sometimes it will happen willingly. But as Christ followers we are called to serve others.
  • Be ready. We may be on a path that doesn't seem right or look the way we think it should. But we just need to be willing, to say yes to His plan. It could very well be the thing we think is the "distraction" that God meant us to do all along. As it says in Proverbs: 19:21 NIV, "many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."
  • Be willing to receive. Could Jesus have done everything alone? Of course, He’s the So:n of God. He didn’t need the disciples, someone to carry His cross or even wipe His brow. But Jesus knew how to receive. He knew that letting others participate in His life would grow them in their faith.
  • Don’t let the fear of failure keep you from participating. Stop thinking you can’t or you don’t have the skills or strength to serve God’s people. If He appoints you, He will anoint you. Time and time again it’s about just saying “Yes” to his call to step out and serve. You see, we don’t see the big picture but He does. We don’t always see how our serving others might be their only connection to Christ, but He does.
QUESTIONS:
  1. Who would you have been, given the opportunity to help Jesus, Simon of Cyrene, “pressed” to participate by the Romans, or Veronica, “willing” to participate? Ultimately both Simon and Veronica were blessed because they served Jesus.
  2. Serving Jesus will be tough at times thanks to the pressures of the world which may not understand what you are called to do, but remember, serving Christ means serving His people. There will be times we must pick up our cross and there will times we will help someone carry theirs. When it comes to serving Jesus are you “pressed” or “willing” to serve Him?
  3. Share about a recent time you have used your gift to serve someone else?

CHALLENGE:

Pursue Participation.Have you been feeling like you need to serve? Maybe at the church, or an outreach or maybe mentoring someone? Today is the day to step out in faith. If you’ve been called, He will equip you. Prepare yourself for the blessing, when you serve others, you are serving Christ and Christ is serving you. It is a win-win situation.

Day 4: People

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:23-24 NIV

 

WHAT WE SEE IN THE FILM: One particular powerful moment in the film is where Jesus draws a line in the sand for Mary Magdalene, being persecuted for committing adultery. In John 8:7-11 it says, “When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘Let any one of you who is without sinbe the first to throw a stone at her.’ Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ ‘No one, sir,’ she said. ‘Then neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin.’” The amazing part about Jesus is He does not condemn nor judge us. Yet He doesn’t condone our sin either. He loves us and reminds us that we are already forgiven, thanks to what He did on the cross.

PURSUE THE PASSION: People are the passion of Jesus Christ. While living here on Earth, Jesus spent time with all kinds of people, especially those who were seen as outcasts -- prostitutes, lepers, tax collectors, etc. He healed them, He forgave them, He taught them by speaking truth, He listened. He knew all their flaws but saw them as beautiful. When He died, He did it for ALL people. EVERYONE.

WHAT WE LEARN FROM JESUS:
  • God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things! In the Bible God constantly uses regular people to do the most amazing miracles. He took a peasant girl and made her the mother of the Messiah. He took a shepherd and turned him into a king. Even Jesus was born in a manger and lived the life of a carpenter. God uses people just like you and me to do His work. Don’t think that because you aren’t rich, don’t know enough people or may not have all the skills that God can’t use you. Because He can and He will.
  • God calls us to love all people. Jesus made people His priority. He says in Matthew 22:37-38 NIV, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it; “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
  • Forgive others and do not judge them. In Luke 6:37 NIV it says, “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” How liberating it is when we freely forgive. Christ does not hold our mistakes against us, we too should not hold them against others. He died on the cross to do away with our sins so that we could be seen as holy and blameless. We must see others in that way.
QUESTIONS:
  1. What do you think Jesus was writing in the sand as the religious leaders stood in front of Him ready to stone the adulterous woman?
  2. Do you believe that the Lord stands before you ready and willing to take your hand, leading you into truth, loving you right where you are at? If so, thank Him and praise Him. If not, ask Him how you can get to that place, what it is that is holding you back from believing it.
  3. These two stations of the cross are specifically noted as Jesus speaking to the women and sees Mary Magdalene. The Lord has a very specific love language for His women (and men) speaking to us and reminding us that we are His and He stands before us to take the pain and insults. Think of a recent time someone has judged you or said something offensive to you. Do you see the Lord standing before you, enduring whatever is hurled your way?
CHALLENGE:

Pursue People. There are many times that we believe our sin is too great for the Lord to redeem, to use but the fact is by dying on the cross He has already redeemed you and me for all of our sins and the moment we begin to see and believe what He has done for us, is the moment He can take all the those things in our lives and use them for good. Today, step out in faith and ask God to provide an opportunity for you to share your redemption story. Share it with someone else or write it in a journal. Let Jesus show you His grace and mercy through your life to another.

Day 5: Pursuit

“But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.” 1 Timothy 6:11 NIV

 

WHAT WE SEE IN THE FILM: Jesus’ pursuit was a painful process to endure, as Mel Gibson so realistically displays in the film. With every strike of man’s hand, with every tear of His skin, with a crown of thorns forced onto His head, Jesus continued to carry the cross. He knew the reward was great, to redeem the relationship between God and His children. As a man, broken and condemned, it was easy to look away, but as the Son of God, there was only one thing Jesus could look upon and that was the cross.

Jesus fell in exhaustion for the third time after experiencing horrific pain and suffering. However, this time Simon of Cyrene, the same man who was “pressed into serving” by helping carry the cross, now encouraged Jesus to go on. He helped Jesus to finish the journey that was set before Him.

PURSUE THE PASSION: Jesus was on the great pursuit as He made His way to the cross. It didn’t start at His arrest, but rather it began at creation, with the fall of mankind in Genesis. Working and weaving through the generations, this pursuit eventually fulfilled the Father’s will and fulfilled prophesy at the same time. By pursuing the cross, Jesus was pursuing us, reclaiming us as blameless and holy before God the Father. He should be our greatest pursuit and as we draw near to Him, we will move closer and closer to our purpose.

WHAT WE LEARN FROM JESUS:
  • Look to the cross. Just as Jesus had to look to the cross as He fell for a third time, not sure He could go any further, so we too must keep our eyes on our great pursuit, Jesus. By looking to the cross, we pursue knowledge and the understanding of “why” Jesus died for us. No matter how hard the trial, we must keep going. The pursuit is difficult, but worth all that is gained in and through Him.
  • God provides. It starts with Jesus, and it ends with Jesus, and in between is the pursuit of Him and His will over our lives. There will be times of rest and times of great pain, times of great reward, loss and gain. However, it will always be God who provides strength and encouragement, whether through others or Himself, when we need it the most.
  • Immerse yourself in Jesus. Pursuing Jesus means pursuing righteousness, because He is righteousness. As we pursue Him, so we also become more like Him. In pursuing Jesus you become closer to Him, and have a much clearer understanding of His will. In this way we will make our goals align with His.
  • Pursuing Jesus is a process. It is a journey, and the more we pursue Him, the more our passion grows to serve Him in every facet of our lives. This is our great pursuit. This is the passion of Christ.
QUESTIONS:
  1. Jesus falls a third time, unable to go any further in his pursuit, when Simon of Cyrene once again encourages Him to keep going and telling Him, “It’s almost done.” What emotions were going through your mind while you watched Jesus lying on the ground, unable to continue?
  2. Are there times that you look back on your pursuit, your journey to where you are right now, where you wanted to give up? What kept you from quitting?
  3. How do you continue the pursuit of your passion? What drives you to keep going? How do you keep your eyes on Jesus?
CHALLENGE:

Pursuit: The pursuit is all about the journey we take while walking in our purpose. However, it must begin with Christ. Today take time to sit with Jesus and thank Him for your life, your purpose and for Him going before you. Then make a list of things and people who will continue to help you in your pursuit for Jesus and fulfilling your purpose. Pray over them and pick one to either reach out to or do, and ask for the need to be filled today.

Day 6: Prayer

“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?” Matthew 5:44-46 NIV

 

WHAT WE SEE IN THE FILM: Jesus was in constant communication with His Father. In the film we see Jesus meet with His disciples during the last supper. Part of this scene comes from John 17, an entire chapter dedicated to Jesus praying, which Jesus did right before He was arrested. Jesus prays first for His Father’s glory as He finishes the work God Has given Him to do. Then He prays for His disciples that they would not be taken out of the world but rather that they would be protected as they are sent into it. Finally He prays for all believers, that He would be in us.

After Jesus finishes praying with all the disciples at the Last Supper, He then goes to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray some more. This is the opening scene of The Passion of the Christ. Here He continues to pray three times, as it says in Matthew 26, for His Father’s will.

Finally, in the film we see Jesus praying even while hanging on the cross, dying. He prays for the criminal beside Him, as it says in Luke 23:43 NIV, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” And again, we see Him pray for His persecutors in Luke 23:34 NIV, this time saying, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

PURSUE THE PASSION: God’s word is not just living, it is breathing, and gives us direct communication with Jesus, creating a deeper relationship. Through prayer we are able to truly experience God as He speaks to us and through us. It’s not about head knowledge or understanding, it’s about Him stirring within us, so we can actually feel His presence. Prayer is the ultimate form of communication between God and His people, and allows Him to reveal His plans and what He desires for our lives.

WHAT WE LEARN FROM JESUS: 
  • Be Present. Prayer is where the relationship takes place. When two sit together, both cannot speak at the same time, otherwise no one would be heard. Instead, one speaks while the other listens, then responds. It is a conversation getting to the heart of the matter. But we must make space, quiet ourselves when we need to listen, and speak to our Father when there is something on our minds. It is this direct communication that makes our relationship with Jesus so personal.
  • Praise Him. This is one way we can worship our God. Even in our darkest moments, we should continue to praise Jesus, affirming our faith in Him. It is easy to praise Him when things are going well, but it is pertinent we praise Him in times of distress. We must thank Him for the challenges He puts before us, for those are the things that stretch us and build character.
  • Pray For Your Enemies. Just like Jesus prayed forgiveness over His persecutors, and prayed for the criminals hanging on the cross, we too must learn to pray for those who hurt us, who have wronged us, or who do not like us. It is easy to pray for our friends, but there is something freeing that happens when we pray for our adversaries. It releases us from captivity, it allows us to let go of any anger we have built up inside.
  • “Ask and you shall receive.” It is not about God giving us whatever we want, but rather that our relationship is so deep, that our will aligns with God’s will, so that we know His heart and what He wants for us. In this way we will know what to pray for, and God will allow it to happen.
QUESTIONS:
  1. Please share a little about how you felt when you watched the Roman soldiers nail Jesus the cross? Did you begin to pray or maybe to thank Jesus for dying on the cross for you?
  2. What did you think about Jesus praying for the sinner on the cross next to him?
  3. How do you communicate with God? Do you write your prayers down in a journal, pray in the car, pray before bed? Think of a recent prayer and share about something that has happened or something He has shown you
CHALLENGE:

Pursue Prayer. In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV it says “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's for you in Christ Jesus.” Look at making a decision to take on a 30 day prayer challenge starting with your Bible in hand and a journal. Pray that the Lord’s word will not only be living but be breathing new life into you as you read and begin to communicate with Jesus and others. Commit to “Praying without ceasing” as you walk into a situation. Join Jesus in prayer and see your life begin to change. See your purpose align with His will as you continue to pursue your passion for Jesus!

Day 7: Purpose

“For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” Philippians 2:13 NIV

 

WHAT WE SEE IN THE FILM: In the final moments of the film, we see the glorious culmination of what Jesus’ purpose was all about -- His resurrection. As the stone is rolled away and Jesus’ body rises from the dead, we see Him look up to God. Then, as He leaves the tomb, we see His wounds are still visible.

In Luke 24:7 NIV it says “The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.” Jesus came to die for us, fulfilling his purpose, to take the sin of the world upon Himself so that each and everyone of us could spend eternal life with Him, holy and blameless. He loved us so much that He would suffer everything we saw in the film, The Passion of the Christ -- the persecution, the beatings, the crucifixion, to have everlasting life with us. His resurrection is our glory and the ultimate display of God’s grace.

PURSUE THE PASSION: Christ’s resurrection is the glorious victory for every believer, that we will no longer be separated from God but we will now be able to live with Him eternally. Jesus made us His priority, He fulfilled His purpose, dying on the cross for all of mankind. The validity of Jesus' claims about Himself rests on the Resurrection. And the Resurrection sets Christianity apart from all other religions, because no other has broken the power of death and conquered sin. By rising from the dead, Jesus proved His authority and power to break the bonds of sin and to assure forgiveness and eternal life to all who accept His gift of salvation.

WHAT WE LEARN FROM JESUS:
  • Align yourself with God. Sometimes our dreams are not what we imagined, but when we are aligned with God’s will and go after what’s on His heart, then we begin to get a clearer picture of how to pursue His passion which begins to align with our purpose.
  • Make Jesus your purpose. When we make Jesus our number one priority, then everything will fall into place. In this way we will follow God’s plan for our life, and it will bring us true happiness. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” - Romans 8:28 NIV Remember it’s never too late, to make Jesus your purpose.
  • See yourself through God’s eyes. Often times we think we are unworthy or not good enough to carry out God’s purpose. We settle and think this is the best we will ever be. But God doesn’t see us that way. Even when we think the task in front of us is too big, He will provide a way. He NEVER calls you to anything that He doesn’t equip you for. Again, you can see why the 7 Ps will help you tackle giants and inspire you to pursue a life with Jesus! “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 NIV
QUESTIONS:
  1. In the film, Jesus sits up and is alive, restored and ready to leave the tomb. What type of emotions stir in you when you see this beautiful, clear moment of the resurrection? Did you shout for victory or maybe shed some tears knowing that this is the moment that His purpose was fulfilled for us?
  2. How is Jesus' resurrection real in your life? If it doesn’t feel real, what can you do to make it so?
  3. How would you share the resurrection of Jesus Christ with others? Are you showing others your love for Christ by the life you’re living?
CHALLENGE:

Pursue Purpose. It is because of His purpose that we are able to have our purpose. In Exodus 9:16 NIV it says, “But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” This is it!!! You have been raised up for purpose, HIS purpose, which in turn equals your purpose. Take some time to sit and take note of the way He’s been preparing you throughout the seasons of your life. Jot down jobs, people you’ve met, good and bad seasons, what you learned from those seasons and then look for a thread that weaves them together. You should see a map. A flowchart that will help point you forward as you continue your pursuit for Him.

We are God’s passion, and He is ours. Pursue your passion and you will find your purpose! #PursueThePassion #SeekTruth #NeverForget

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Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. NIV®. COPYRIGHT © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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